If you’re an avid reader of my blog, you may have noticed the lack of blogging. Yes, I can only apologise so much. If you are an avid reader, or even a curious reader, of my blog, then you’ll have noticed that I freelance too.

I’m not trying to come up with excuses but freelancing alongside a full time job is hard work. And that also means that one aspect of my life is going to suffer. Keeping me on the go is pretty tough going so in order to maintain my health, I sacrificed my blog.

Ouch.

I know.

Knowing your limits is such an important part of life. Managing your workload and managing your time are both key elements to having a fulfilling life. Hanging out with friends or getting back into your fitness shouldn’t be a punishment and that’s exactly what I’ve been doing.

What to know a bit more? I guess you’ve read this far, you deserve to see what I’ve been working on. Continue reading

You may have been keeping up to date with my website for a while now, or you may be fairly new to it. Either way I hope youve had a browse through all the pages and what it has to offer. Ive had some people approach me and tell me its got some wonderful resources for writers. Ive had others tell me that its full of inspiration. To be honest, Ill let you make up your own mind on how useful it is.

But if you have been keeping up to date with me, and you have had a look around, you may be aware that Im working on a novel. Thanks to NaNoWriMo, I have a completed first draft that is in the process of some rigorous editing. And although that is potentially one of the hurdles jumped over successfully, its taken more than just writing to get there.

Recently I’ve been trying to focus myself more on the writing part of my life. After taking part in NaNoWriMo in November, and seeing my true capabilities, I thought it was only fair to share some of my thoughts with you.

Writing is a very controversial topic for many people and there are some that just don’t understand it. I recently had a discussion online with an individual who just didn’t seem to understand what we were talking about. He queried the standard of writing and asked ‘how do you know it’s any good’. What a great question and one that isn’t easily answered. If I’m honest with you, the guy really pee’d me off. I had to take a step away from the keyboard to find my cool.

But I was walking home one day after work and went to cross the road. It was one of those T-junctions onto a main road. This van had come from the hospital and was pulling up to the junction. He stopped a little back – usually a sign that they’re letting you cross. But the moment I put my foot out, he moved forwards. So of course, I jumped back before he waved me ahead of him. But that got me thinking…about writing of course.

The final day of our trip was dedicated to another family member. Someone who often gets forgotten because of his shy, mild-mannered nature but is the loveliest grandparent you could ask for. He never forgets a Christmas or birthday card – ever – and is always willing to open his home to his children and grandchildren. And that’s Grandad.

My favourite childhood photo is on Grandad’s garden bench where he has one arm wrapped around me, a cheeky smile on my face and blonde bunches visible on top of my head – yes that’s right, I made the pineapple-look fashionable – and of course I’m wearing some horrible 90s outfit. I think a bright pink reebok sweatshirt with some horribly patterned leggings. Back when I was all cute and innocent.

I love going to educational lectures. I love learning stuff. That’s a good thing right? But sometimes I find myself getting so annoyed, it just ruins it. Now I’m quite a passionate person and those who know me best also know I can get passionate, or should I say angry, about silly little things. Pet peeves is what we Brits call them. Well I have a hundred of them and this is just one.

The following day we enjoyed a lazy morning, getting up a little later, taking our time in getting dressed before heading out to the reason why were there in the first place, that’s right Mama’s birthday lunch.

We arrived at the hotel after a bit of a hairy ride in the car. Having only been insured for a matter of days, it’s safe to say that the Lover wasn’t the calmest passenger in the car. And on twisty turny roads that were unfamiliar probably wasn’t the place in which to learn how to handle the Astra.

As the Lover drove into the Nottinghamshire countryside, I was squirming in my seat. He obviously questioned my actions with a ‘what the hell are you doing’ and the simple explanation of ‘getting changed’ did nothing to explain my situation to him.

Have you ever tried to get changed in a moving car? It’s not the easiest. In fact it’s bloody difficult. Especially when dealing with tights, which let’s face it are not the easiest garment to get on and off. Let’s also not forget, that I was having to first undress myself from my leggings – another item of clothing that is hard to change in a hurry – before then getting into the tights. A tricky task indeed.

After a hectic morning at work counting down the hours and for once having more to do than I could handle. I could finally be whisked away on a magical long weekend for my Nan’s birthday. My Nan is in fact called Mama, something to do with my cousin having the inability to say Grandma.

So of course, my train was running late. Only four minutes behind schedule but it was enough to set me on edge. Come on! So the normally relaxed stance reading whichever book I’m halfway through was replaced by some nervous pacing. The train finally arrives with a relief and I don’t hesitate in boarding – in fact I may have elbowed some people out of the way in my haste. Not deliberately of course.

So many of you may have heard about NaNoWriMo, and many of you may have even taken part.

How did it go for you? I had a whale of a time.

Now for those of you that aren’t familiar, the rules are as follows:

Start a novel

Write 50,000 words by the end of November

(That averages 1,666 words a day)

Now as you may have read my apprehensive post at the beginning of November, I wasn’t very well equipped to take on the challenge. Of the 30 days in November, I was away visiting family and on a weekend trip to London which robbed me of 7 days.